The Supreme Master Ching Hai
Formosa and Nepal Relief Teams (Originally in Chinese and Nepali)
During the rainy season in Nepal, extremely heavy rain triggered floods and landslides on July 26, 2016, which unfortunately took the lives of 73 people. Supreme Master Ching Hai compassionately instructed our Association members to render aid in Nepal and provided a relief fund of US$16,000. Two of our Nepal Association members first went to the disaster area to investigate the situation, and to find out which items were needed. On August 4, two of our Formosan Association members arrived in Kolkata, India, which is near Nepal, and formed a team with six local members.
On August 7, we went to our first stop: the affected Bangai area in Kapilvastu in southern Nepal, where, according to Buddhist tradition, Shakyamuni Buddha spent his childhood. We found out that 101 houses were damaged, so we purchased and distributed 101 portions of rice, oil, salt, blankets and mats to the victims. The local social workers, expressing their appreciation for the assistance from Master, also joined our team for the relief work. Mr. Netra Giri said, “The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association relief team eased the victims’ pains and sorrows.”
The Pyuthan District is located in the mountains of western Nepal. There is little flat ground available for planting, so most of the people there are living in poverty. On the morning of August 8, we purchased goods. In the afternoon, we headed to our second stop, which was in Fopli Village Development Committee (VDC), zones 1- 6. The trip was very dangerous and bumpy due to the uneven roads. As the top of the mountain received the hardest hit from the disaster, which caused severe damage to the roads, our van could not go further. Two local team members took four hours to climb up the mountain, and visited the affected households door-to-door to distribute supplies. In total, we gave out 126 packages, each containing rice, oil, salt, beans and blankets.
Knowing the suffering of the victims, we also prepared candy for them along with the supplies. Both the children and the adults were very happy. They were curious and delighted to see the photos we took with them, and kept looking at them on our phone. We told them that our “Guru” attained enlightenment in the Himalayan Mountains, and She instructed us to send love to everyone here. We observed that the local people are very pure-hearted.
On the morning of August 9, we distributed supplies to 80 victims in zones 8 and 9. Because of landslides, it was difficult to reach the affected areas. Therefore, those who lived up the mountain walked for two hours to come to us. Despite that, they were happy to receive any supplies we could offer. Some local police and government officials helped us a lot so that the distribution would go smoothly. In the afternoon, we continued to zone 7, and distributed 200 portions of supplies.
On August 10, we went to Puja VDC and Arkha VDC to distribute supplies. These two places are in a remote mountainous area. In order to finish the relief work on time, we chose to set up a distribution center in Sali Bisauni, a village in the Pyuthan District that is close to both areas. A total of 229 people from these two districts happily received gifts from Master. Some of them had lost their families and homes, so we tried to convey to them Master’s comfort and blessing. With the help of the local officials and police, those who arrived late were able to receive supplies as well.
On August 19, our Nepalese Association members continued to distribute 318 blankets to 290 families affected by the flood, and to the disadvantaged people in Kapilvastu. Our Formosa team, on their return home, contributed NPR 9,132 of the relief funds to an orphanage, which is home to 40 children in need, in Gokarna, Kathmandu.
Our deep gratitude to Master for Her blessings, for the safe journey and the smooth relief work. May all those affected by the flooding in Nepal, and all those less fortunate, be blessed with Heaven’s comfort.
Expenditures by The Supreme Master Ching Hai for Flood Relief Work in Nepal
| Description | Amount (NPR) | Receipt |
| Food (rice, pulses, oil and salt) and blankets | 1,404,187 | A |
| Transportation | 224,690 | B |
| Lodging and food | 67,441 | C |
| Miscellaneous | 2,800 | D |
| Contribution to an orphanage in Gokarna, Kathmandu (40 children) | 9,132 | E |
| Total | NPR 1,708,250 (US$16,000) |
The relief team members paid US$1,900 for their own transportation.
August 7, 2016
August 8, 2016
August 9, 2016